Labour Relations Board has affirmed BC teachers can skip out of  after-school activities involving sports and field trips, but not parent-teacher  interviews and district meetings.

In a ruling issued today, LRB Vice-Chair Ritu Mahil found that “the Union has not declared or authorized an unlawful strike by directing its members to refrain from participating in activities which occur outside of class time/instructional hours and are truly voluntary and extra-curricular.”

BCTF President Susan Lambert welcomed the decision saying: “This is a significant legal victory for teachers because it clarifies the distinction between voluntary and non-voluntary work, and it reaffirms that the countless hours that teachers devote to extra-curricular activities with students truly are voluntary. We’ve always known that, but it’s excellent to have it confirmed by the Labour Relations Board.”

Lambert added, however, that the decision will offer cold comfort to teachers, who feel disrespected by the needlessly provocative actions of the BC Public School Employers’ Association.

LRB vice-chair Ritu Mahil ruled Friday that the B.C. Teachers’ Federation did  not “authorize an unlawful strike” when it directed its members to withdraw from  coaching and field trips. But the LRB ruled teachers must participate in  after-hours activities that are part of their work duties, such as  parent-teacher interviews, school-based team meetings, district committee  meetings and education ministry initiatives.

The ruling — made after the B.C. Public School Employees’ Association  complained that the union was staging illegal strike action.